H145 LUH SAR Enters Service in the Bundeswehr

Helis, July 06, 2020 - The Airbus H145/EC145T2 has now officially replaced the veteran UH-1D Huey in the search and rescue role in the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr).

They are easy to identify thanks to the characteristic bright orange paintwork on their doors, featuring ‘SAR’ in blue lettering.

The German Army (HEER) ordered 7 helicopters to be based at Niederstetten, Holzdorf and Nörvenich. Deliveries started last December and will continue through next year.

According to an agreement with the Federal Ministry of Transport, the Bundeswehr is responsible for search and rescue (SAR) operations in the event of aircraft accidents and to provide air support in national disaster management operations. It therefore maintains a fleet of helicopters on permanent standby. This mission was carried out until now by the Dornier UH-1D Huey which first entered into service in the early 1970s.

The H145 LUH SAR is equipped with high-performance cameras, searchlights, emergency beacon locator systems, a full suite of medical equipment, rescue winches and load hooks that can be used for fire-extinguishing tanks among other payloads.